Film Review: MegaMind - "I Make Bad, Look So Good"

Directed By: Tom McGrath , Cameron Hood

Cast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, David Cross, Justin Theroux

We have all seen a clichéd hero-villain plot where the good guy always beats the bad guy and of course gets the girl. Have you ever wondered what would happen if the super-villain won for a change?

That’s exactly what screenwriters Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons asked themselves when they came up with the initial concept for Megamind, the animated adventure from DreamWorks being released on December 5th.

Megamind is a satirical take on the superhero genre focusing on a down-and-out super villain (voiced by Will Ferrell) who finally destroys his arch nemesis, Metro Man (Brad Pitt) during one of his many botched hostage plots involving news reporter Roxanne (Tina Fey), who may remind you of Lois Lane from Superman.

Lost and depressed without an enemy, he creates a nemesis, turning to Roxanne's lonely cameraman Hal (Jonah Hill) into Metro City's next big superhero, Tighten.

Unfortunately for Megamind, Tighten turns into one of the biggest villains who decide to utilize his new power against humanity as revenge for the lifetime of rejection he has endured for years. Megamind is left undecided; can he defeat his own diabolical creation? Will the evil genius become the unlikely hero of his own story? Will the super villain get the girl, this once?

Besides the noticeably A-list voice cast, Megamind is written by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons who take in their dexterous plotting that guarantees there’s never a dull moment while director, McGrath takes good care that the action doesn’t cross the line from the energetic to the simply exhausting.
Overall, the film stands as one of the best arguments in favor of 3D over the past couple of years that feels like mature, restrained, even natural use of the technique.

Moreover, if Megamind lives up to expectations, audiences can be sure that there will be a follow-up adventure. “I think Megamind creates a world that has a lot of possibilities story wise,” said McGrath in his interview with comicbookmovie.com.

“There are a lot of stories you can tell from the point of view of the villain other than just the relationship between good and evil.”

(This article was originally published in PR1 Magazine, Entertainment Section on 29th November 2010)

PR1 is University of Central Lancashire's Student Magazine.

To read issue: http://issuu.com/jamesbutlin/docs/pr1issue61

Film Review: Gulliver’s Travel

Directed By: Rob Letterman

Starring: Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Catherine Tate

5/10

Gulliver’s Travels is yet another remake of the classic tale based on the 18^th century novel by Jonathan Swift of a man who ends up on an island, and he’s HUGE!  So what sets this latest version new Gulliver’s Travels apart from the rest? For one, it stars our ever so talented Jack Black who will be playing the big guy.

In this epic and modern tale Gulliver (Black), a mailroom clerk at a New York newspaper bluffs his way into an assignment about the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle, he is then hurtled to an undiscovered land, Lilliput, where hilarity will no doubt ensue! At first enslaved by the diminutive and industrious Liliputians and later declared their hero but soon learns that it’s how big you are on the inside that counts.

This 20^th Century Fox film is set to hit the big screens this Christmas of 2010. There’s a mixed response when it comes to its release, some critics say that if you’re a Jack Black fan or care for some live-action family adventure, you should definitely give this flick. While, others say that judging from the posters and trailers it looks like a fake movie similar to Funny People or Tropic Thunder, leaving room for disappointment.  

(This article was originally published in PR1 Magazine, Entertainment Section on 29th November 2010)

PR1 is University of Central Lancashire's Student Magazine.

To read issue: http://issuu.com/jamesbutlin/docs/pr1issue61

Baraka: A Silent Masterpiece

Movie’s Name: Baraka Directed by: Ron Fricke Produced By: Mark Madigson Written By: Constantine Nicholas & Genevieve Nicholas Music By: Michael Stearns Release Date: 1992 Running time: 96 minutes

Baraka is an ancient Sufi word, when translated means ‘a blessing’. This movie is no ordinary everyday movie that one watches but is a silent masterpiece. Baraka has no plot, actors, dialogues or subtitles thus entitling this movie to be watched anywhere by anyone. The movie is a breathtaking journey through six continents and twenty-four countries. The rich cinematography and sensuous music compels the viewer to know more. The film offers no answers but many questions. It is up to us to perceive it in our own way and come up with our own conclusions. The movie may seem to be a wondrous jigsaw but it all does fit together to make perfect sense.

Baraka illustrates the basic elements of earth which are air, fire, water and land and how these are used in various ways by several people in different places. The movie shows an antithesis to any situation thus maintaining a balance on mother earth but yet at most times this balance is not equally shared, causing bedlam.

The movie also depicts how man has evolved from Stone Age to today’s digital world. But in the process of advancement, mankind has let machines take control of their emotions, making their lives more mechanical and monotonous. People throughout the world are becoming more materialistic day by day and are forgetting the basic fruits of life itself.

The beauty of the movie Baraka is that it targets no particular audience. It tries to convey a message without any words concentrating on the visual representation thus offending no one. It also shows that even though we are all so different in our own very ways, yet we are all the same. Baraka is indeed a one true blessing by itself as it makes the viewer acknowledge the value of life and how an individual must stop to savor each ‘blessing’ in ones life before its too late.

View trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYZ8RWqqicQ

The First of Daran

Lourens Blok has made his debut as a director, with The Seven of Daran: Battle of Pareo Rock, a Dutch 2008 movie. An independent film was produced by Amsterdam-based Rolf Visser and Felice Bakker of AAA Pictures on a budget of about $8 million, the live-action film shot in South Africa and Namibia has played at Middle Eastern and European festivals and was even distributed by Walt Disney in Holland.

The Battle of Pareo Rock tells the story of a rich 11-year old European boy, Jimmy Westwood (Johann Harmse) who resides in Africa with his mother, (Caroline Goodall, Princess Diaries;2001) who is too indulgent in her work as an executive, establishing a golf resort. On the other side, there seems to be some tension brewing up between two once-friendly African tribes who have turned arch enemies over the land (Pareo Rock) which they now don’t remember who it rightfully belongs to. As one tribe, the Bombattas tribe want to sell it while the Saladir tribe wants to preserve their ancestral grounds and so the war instils….

On his way home, Jimmy meets the talking white giraffe, Seraf, at a busy market. Seraf tells Jimmy that he has to stop this tribal battle and presents him a precious medallion. So together with Charita, (Ketrice Maitisa) a poor African girl at his side, they embark on an adventurous and enchanting journey facing obstacle after obstacle, making it even more difficult than it already is, urging us to know whether Jimmy will reach Pareo rock in time?

The movie has all the ingredients a great movie would need, good direction, an interesting plot coupled with intriguing acting from the actors. One is also compelled to commend the music by Maaten Spurijt; nominated by Golden Calf Awards, as it was really apt arousing the right feelings at the right time leaving one deeply touched,

The Seven of Daran, ventured from fantasy, suspense, action, violence, romance thus with so many varied genres, the movie puts across a strong message to its audience of varied ages, particularly children; ‘we must believe in ourselves, set our goals and we will eventually achieve them in good time’.

(This film review entered the finals for 'The Young Journalist Award', Dubai International Film Festival 2008)